Verdict

ARTICLES ABOUT VERDICT BY DATE - PAGE 3

This week, attorneys for Brandon Morris, accused in the January shooting death of Correctional Officer Jeffery Wroten, filed about 50 motions in the case, including a challenge to Maryland's method of execution as "cruel and unusual punishment. " Maryland uses a combination of three chemicals to create a lethal injection. There have been challenges to lethal injection in other states, where opponents have said that, far from being a quiet death, it can be painful and terrifying for the subject.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - After jurors struggled for three days between a possible verdict of voluntary manslaughter and not guilty, they finally told a judge they were hopelessly deadlocked. The murder trial of Raymond Hoak was declared a mistrial late Tuesday afternoon by Jefferson County Circuit Judge Thomas W. Steptoe Jr. The jury of seven men and five women returned to chambers Tuesday morning for deliberations after telling Steptoe late Monday afternoon that they were having trouble reaching a verdict in the case.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W. Va. - Saying their ability to reach a consensus "appears to be zero," jurors in the Raymond Hoak murder trial said Monday they were unable to reach a verdict. In a note passed to Circuit Judge Thomas W. Steptoe late in the afternoon, jurors said they had been discussing the case all day and were unable to reach a decision. Jurors were told by Steptoe to report to Jefferson County Circuit Court again today at 9 a.m. and make another attempt to reach a verdict.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - A judge ruled Thursday that jurors in the Raymond Hoak murder trial will choose from three possible verdicts in addition to not guilty when they begin deliberations, which are expected to begin today. Defense attorneys Kevin D. Mills and Harley O. Wagner argued looking for a different ruling from Jefferson County Circuit Judge Thomas W. Steptoe Jr. Wagner told Steptoe that because Hoak was indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the Feb. 9, 2003, shooting death of Larry G. Hose, Hoak wants the jury to either choose first-degree murder or not guilty.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - A few in the audience cried or silently pumped their fists Tuesday when it was announced that a jury had found Vernon Henderson Dunlap Sr. guilty of first-degree murder in the throat-slashing death of Jennifer Leigh Dodson. Dunlap, 46, stood and faced the jurors as a court clerk read the verdict aloud. He closed his eyes moments later when Circuit Judge Thomas Steptoe pronounced him as formally convicted of the charge.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - As a clerk announced Thursday afternoon that a jury had found Nicole Kees guilty of first-degree murder, Kees shook her head, covered her face with her hands and began to sob. Moments later, after members of the jury were dismissed, Kees screamed, "I'm going to spend my life in prison because their son wanted to get high?" Although the verdict carries an automatic sentence of life in prison, jurors decided to grant mercy, meaning Kees will be eligible for a parole hearing after serving 15 years.

pepperb@herald-mail.com After deliberating for an hour, a Washington County Circuit jury on Thursday found Jack L. Hammersla Jr. guilty of first-degree murder in the bludgeoning death of Shirley Finfrock in November 2003. Hammersla, 46, of no fixed address, was indicted in January in the Nov. 12, 2003, death of 68-year-old Finfrock at her 22128 Holiday Drive home near Smithsburg. The jury of six women and six men returned guilty verdicts on charges of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder, burglary, theft, robbery and malicious destruction of property.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - After a judge read a jury's verdict aloud in court Friday evening, in which Brandon D. Green was found guilty of kidnapping and four other charges, one woman stood up angrily. "You're wrong," the woman yelled, pointing toward jurors. "You're wrong. You know that, don't you?" Friends and bailiffs quickly escorted her out of the room. Jurors found Green, 22, of Martinsburg, guilty of kidnapping, grand larceny, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, conspiracy to commit grand larceny and battery.

julieg@herald-mail.com Is it "a good thing" that domestic diva Martha Stewart was convicted on all counts Friday for lying to the government about her well-timed stock sale? "I said good. Because I believe she was guilty," said Juledith Marshall, 34, of Hagerstown. "She shouldn't be treated special because she's a celebrity," Marshall said. There were no jokes about pastel coveralls or cell cuisine from local residents interviewed by The Herald-Mail on Friday.